This past week, I've been trying to rest and soak in nature outdoors. I'm still having some chest pain, not sure why. I'm hoping it is unrelated to the two spots found in my lungs from my last CT scan. I went down to the surf shops and beach here in Clearwater, Florida to buy some shorts (it's HOT here!) and a beach towel. As I reached for the beach towels placed underneath the shelves of SPF lotions, sunscreen, and tanning oil, a young woman proudly grabbed the "Exotic Dark Tanning Oil" with no SPF and sailed to the cash register for her purchase as she said to me, "I live dangerously!" Ironically, I looked at her over my left shoulder which has two 9 centimeter scars from multiple surgeries of removing malignant melanoma cancer. I looked at her, and pointed to my scars, and gently said, "I'm sure you don't want these!" She looked at my arm, and swapped her non-SPF for some actual sunscreen WITH SPF.
It's not just skin cancer. My prayer is that this blog entry would bring awareness to what IS melanoma. Melanoma is the most deadly, most aggressive type of skin cancer. There is a projection of 76,600 cases of invasive skin cancer in 2013, according to the American Cancer Society. It accounts for more than 9,000 of the 12,000-plus skin cancer deaths each year. Melanoma is the fastest growing cancer in the United States and worldwide. According to the Melanoma Research Foundation, the incidence of people under 30 developing melanoma is increasing faster than any other demographic group, soaring by 50 percent in young women since 1980. Melanoma primarily affects individuals in the prime years of life, is the most common form of cancer for young adults 25-29 years old and the second most common cancer in adolescents and young adults 15-29 years old. Although melanoma is most common in Caucasians, melanoma can strike men and women of all ages, all races and all skin types. One person dies from malignant melanoma every hour.
Don't take from me, I encourage you to read Ashley's story and her last wish: http://www.king5.com/health/Young-woman-with-skin-cancer--192637701.html
"Meet a young woman who regrets the day she first walked into a tanning salon and why she's making a special appeal now. Ashley Trenner used to think a bronze glow made her look younger. That's why she was so determined to keep it year round. 'I used to say that I don't care if I die from tanning as long as I die tan,' said Ashley. 'I used to say that. I don't think that way anymore.'"
Or maybe you are a Mom? If the statistics are not enough for you to stop tanning and wear SPF, perhaps when you see the pain and fear in the eyes of your family/friends. I'm sure as a Mom, or a Dad, the last thing you think about as you cradle your sweet child, the last thing you think about on their graduation day from kindergarten, or the last thing you think about when you teach them to use a potty - is watching your child, grown up as they may get, fighting for their life in a battle with cancer. You can hear this mother's story, daughter diagnosed with stage 2 melanoma at age 19: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zYzfldQ3OU0&feature=player_embedded#action=share
All of this has caused me to look at my own vanity, my own responsibility I may or may not have in being diagnosed. Ultimately, I have no idea why I've been a victim of malignant melanoma. But what I can tell you, is that I have it and I can - from now on - take every precaution I can to not let it get worse. I believe this is part of being a good steward of the life God has given me! My life is a gift to me, every breath is a gift and I want to value my life by taking the best care of myself that I can. Tanning, like smoking, causes cancer. The bronze glow is not worth it, if it is a glow that will kill you. I can tell you I carry scars forever, and treating melanoma has cost over $200,000, not to mention a major inconvenience in my job and my quality of life.
Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit [who is] in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own? - 1 Corinthians 6:19, NKJV
If you are interested in getting screened for melanoma, I applaud your first step! Make an appointment with your dermatologist, or family physician, to discuss having a full-skin check for melanoma. The sooner it is treated, the easier it is to treat - and less costly to your time and finances. You can also go to www.melanoma.org for more resources or information. I'm here to cheer you on! Let pale be the new trend, save your skin and save your life.
The Lord is so kind to give us life, and part of honoring Him is being a good steward of the life He gives us!
It's not just skin cancer. My prayer is that this blog entry would bring awareness to what IS melanoma. Melanoma is the most deadly, most aggressive type of skin cancer. There is a projection of 76,600 cases of invasive skin cancer in 2013, according to the American Cancer Society. It accounts for more than 9,000 of the 12,000-plus skin cancer deaths each year. Melanoma is the fastest growing cancer in the United States and worldwide. According to the Melanoma Research Foundation, the incidence of people under 30 developing melanoma is increasing faster than any other demographic group, soaring by 50 percent in young women since 1980. Melanoma primarily affects individuals in the prime years of life, is the most common form of cancer for young adults 25-29 years old and the second most common cancer in adolescents and young adults 15-29 years old. Although melanoma is most common in Caucasians, melanoma can strike men and women of all ages, all races and all skin types. One person dies from malignant melanoma every hour.
Don't take from me, I encourage you to read Ashley's story and her last wish: http://www.king5.com/health/Young-woman-with-skin-cancer--192637701.html
"Meet a young woman who regrets the day she first walked into a tanning salon and why she's making a special appeal now. Ashley Trenner used to think a bronze glow made her look younger. That's why she was so determined to keep it year round. 'I used to say that I don't care if I die from tanning as long as I die tan,' said Ashley. 'I used to say that. I don't think that way anymore.'"
Or maybe you are a Mom? If the statistics are not enough for you to stop tanning and wear SPF, perhaps when you see the pain and fear in the eyes of your family/friends. I'm sure as a Mom, or a Dad, the last thing you think about as you cradle your sweet child, the last thing you think about on their graduation day from kindergarten, or the last thing you think about when you teach them to use a potty - is watching your child, grown up as they may get, fighting for their life in a battle with cancer. You can hear this mother's story, daughter diagnosed with stage 2 melanoma at age 19: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zYzfldQ3OU0&feature=player_embedded#action=share
All of this has caused me to look at my own vanity, my own responsibility I may or may not have in being diagnosed. Ultimately, I have no idea why I've been a victim of malignant melanoma. But what I can tell you, is that I have it and I can - from now on - take every precaution I can to not let it get worse. I believe this is part of being a good steward of the life God has given me! My life is a gift to me, every breath is a gift and I want to value my life by taking the best care of myself that I can. Tanning, like smoking, causes cancer. The bronze glow is not worth it, if it is a glow that will kill you. I can tell you I carry scars forever, and treating melanoma has cost over $200,000, not to mention a major inconvenience in my job and my quality of life.
Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit [who is] in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own? - 1 Corinthians 6:19, NKJV
If you are interested in getting screened for melanoma, I applaud your first step! Make an appointment with your dermatologist, or family physician, to discuss having a full-skin check for melanoma. The sooner it is treated, the easier it is to treat - and less costly to your time and finances. You can also go to www.melanoma.org for more resources or information. I'm here to cheer you on! Let pale be the new trend, save your skin and save your life.
The Lord is so kind to give us life, and part of honoring Him is being a good steward of the life He gives us!
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